Drive or Fly: Medina, NY to Queens, NY?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BUF–JFK. At 369 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 58m

Distance

369.9 mi

Total Cost

$117

CO2

149 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$82

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 24m

35m in the air

Air Distance

292 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

75 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Medina, NY → BUF 39m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Queens, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Medina, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

Queens, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF and JFK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 34m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 38m

8h 3m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

17 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Medina, NY → Buffalo Depew Station 41m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 483m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → Queens, NY 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Buffalo Depew Station 28 mi, ~41m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	7h 58m	3h 24m	9h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$117	$187	$57
Carbon footprint	149 kg CO₂	75 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

369.9 mi 7h 57m

via I 81, I 80, I 90

Alternative (+24 min)

397 mi 8h 22m

via I 80, US 15, I 390

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Medina, NY to Queens, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.